Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The world champ times over ..who can’t ride a bike on the road Rea still hasn’t got his licence
COOL RIDER
HE might be a four-time World Superbike champion but Jonathan Rea still doesn’t have a licence to ride on public roads.
The Co Antrim man wrote his name into the history books at the weekend when he became the first rider to win four consecutive WSBK titles.
Rea is used to racing bikes at speeds of 200mph around the twists and bends of some of the world’s fastest circuits.
But away from the track he admits he is like Driving Miss Daisy in his own car.
He said: “I really want to get my bike licence. I would like to get an old vintage type bike to ride to the shops.
“I want an open-faced helmet, leather jacket on, go for a coffee with my wife Tatia. But I have no time to get my licence at the minute.
“I have a car licence. It is not like I can’t drive on the roads. But I would like a bike licence one day.
“Generally, I love riding a racing a bike to its absolute limit. I like riding it fast and breaking at the last possible minute and throwing it into corners.
“And when I come home, even in my car, I am like Driving Miss Daisy. I get my kicks on the track.
“A bike would be a cool way to commute, especially in traffic. Unfortunately we don’t have the best weather here to ride bikes, like southern Europe has. But it would be cool to ride an old bike.” Rea returned to Northern Ireland on Monday after celebrating his latest World championship success.
He was in Belfast yesterday to help launch his new autobiography, Dream. Believe. Achieve.
The book tracks the life and career of a man who has risen to the top of one of the most skilled and dangerous sports in the world.
He revealed: “It’s mad I am launching my book and I have just won a fourth world title. The launch date of October 4 was set months and months ago. And then, hey ho, the weekend before I win the fourth world championship. It is mad.
“It will be an incredible week.
“I am sure the PR company will be pleased with the way these two events have merged together.”rea believes it will take time for his success on two wheels to sink in.
Not only has he won four consecutive World Superbike titles, but he also holds the record for most race wins in the series, eclipsing the great Carl Fogarty.
He said: “I casually said when I was younger that I wanted to be a world champion, and I had barely ridden a bike. “There was no clear way to the top. But I did it.
“I did it because I had a lot of good people behind me who taught me a lot. But I had no idea I would get here.
“My granda John told me, ‘You will be a world champion one day’. But every grandparent or parent tells their child they will be great.
“I kind of hung on to that, and here we are today.” Jonathan Rea: Dream. Believe. Achieve is out on Thursday. Priced at £20.